20 JULY 1985, Page 42

Competition

No. 1381: Strong medicine

Set by Jaspistos: Two poetasters, named Wilhelmina Stitch and Patience Strong, used to (and for all I know still do) write a daily newspaper column of very simple and inspiringly cheerful verse. You are invited to write a poem in their manner with a message of doom and despair (maximum 16 lines). Entries to 'Competition No. 1381' by 2 August.